| A barista is a person who prepares coffee drinks in a | | | | roasts, syrups, steaming and frothing milk and using |
| coffee house as his or her profession and especially | | | | all sorts of ingredients and flavours that turn their |
| strives to create the perfect espresso. The barista | | | | beverages into savory works of art. The baristas can |
| possesses extensive knowledge on different kinds of | | | | spend even months to invent this perfect drink that |
| beans and roasts and has the technical skills required | | | | can bring them the victory in a competition. |
| to master the espresso machine. | | | | Here are some examples of drinks that barista |
| Baristas consider the extraction of coffee as art and | | | | champions have invented: |
| they actually perform in front of their customers | | | | * Troels Poulsen, the 2005 World Barista |
| each time they prepare an espresso, a cappuccino, a | | | | Championship winner, created a drink called ESB, as in |
| caffe latte or a caffe mocha. However, if they wish | | | | "enhanced sensory balance" by combining melted |
| for larger audience and consider themselves as really | | | | pepper-gel, espresso and lavender syrup. |
| talented they can consider competing in barista | | | | * Phuong Tran, the 2005 USA Barista Champion, was |
| competitions. These events take place every year | | | | inspired by her childhood in creating the Crimson |
| and they are held at local and national levels. The | | | | Sage, a drink made of sugar cane juice, white pepper |
| ultimate title to win is the World Barista Champion. | | | | powder and steamed milk infused with sage leaves. |
| The World Barista Championship was first held in | | | | She said that as a child she loved drinking sugar cane |
| 2000 in Monte Carlo and it became quickly a public | | | | juice with ice and she always dreamed of using it in a |
| event where the best baristas from different | | | | drink. |
| countries battled for espresso making supremacy. | | | | * Sammy Piccolo, the 2004 Canadian Barista |
| The World Barista Championship takes place every | | | | Championship winner, created "Insieme" by using raw |
| year in a different country and the competitors are | | | | sugar, egg yolks, curry, bittersweet chocolate and |
| the winners of the national barista competitions. | | | | milk. |
| In the United States the Specialty Coffee Association | | | | * Bronwen Serna, USA Barista Champion of 2004, |
| of America (SCAA) hosts several local barista | | | | entitled her signature drink "Sweetness" because the |
| competitions. There are ten regions, and each state | | | | main "secret" ingredient was honey. She also used |
| has been assigned to a region. Local competitions are | | | | dark chocolate powder and served it with a dark |
| sponsored by businesses, and the winner of each of | | | | chocolate square. |
| the local events has the chance to try to impress the | | | | Baristas train hard for these competitions, especially if |
| jury at the US Barista Championship. There are many | | | | they have the chance to participate in the World |
| barista competitions in Europe and the United | | | | Barista Championship. They try to bring to perfection |
| Kingdom. Canada, Australia and Central America also | | | | their technique and put together their program as |
| have barista competitions at the local, regional and | | | | during the competition everything has to work |
| national levels. | | | | smoothly, no glitches are allowed. They can actually |
| In a barista competition the judges have to assess | | | | be compared to athletes rehearsing for the Olympic |
| both the competitors and the coffee drinks they | | | | games as some of them even have coaches that |
| make. The criteria based on which they score each | | | | sometimes play the role of judges in preparation for |
| barista involve the quality and taste of the beverage, | | | | the competition. |
| personal presentation, technique and also the | | | | Barista training |
| presentation of the coffee drink. | | | | Well, perhaps after reading about the competition |
| The baristas race against the clock as they are only | | | | requirements it might be wise to brush up a bit on |
| allowed to perform for 15 minutes. They also have 15 | | | | your skills. There are several ways to either get basic |
| minutes before the actual presentation to prepare | | | | skills training as a barista or enhance your existing |
| with every detail for the show - ingredients like | | | | skills: |
| syrups, chocolate sprinkles or anything that you can | | | | * Books and manuals. There are many books or |
| think of except alcohol, cups, trays, blenders, mixers | | | | manuals available that take you step by step through |
| and portable burners. Contenders even roast their | | | | the processes of making an espresso, a cappuccino |
| own coffee and bring it with them at the | | | | and other specialty coffee drink. The drawback is |
| competition. After serving their drinks, baristas have | | | | that you only have still pictures to look at which may |
| 15 minutes to clean their station before they make | | | | make it difficult for beginners to see the details of |
| room for another contestant. The espresso machines | | | | the methods. |
| used in the competition are key to the taste of the | | | | * Videos. These provide both visual modeling as well |
| coffee. The machines must be left absolutely clean | | | | as commentary on how to produce the perfect cup |
| and free from any impurities. | | | | of espresso. |
| During the 15 minute performance interval baristas | | | | * Training classes. There are training locations in most |
| have to prove their skills by preparing 4 espressos, 4 | | | | areas that offer courses that range from three hours |
| cappuccinos and 4 signature drinks. Four sensory | | | | to a full day on learning the secrets of a barista. |
| judges that have to decide on the quality of the | | | | Many of these programs also deal with how to care |
| drinks sample each one of the beverages. While | | | | for the espresso machine and offer a certificate |
| preparing the beverages, the baristas have to | | | | upon completion. |
| present their work, give details about the ingredients | | | | * Hands-on. Some experienced barista will offer |
| they used to the audience and also treat the judges | | | | personal training or mentoring for those interested in |
| as customers in a coffee shop. One can only imagine | | | | becoming a barista or in improving their skills. |
| the stress. | | | | Whatever you decide to do, if you have a talent for |
| After the espressos and cappuccinos, which are | | | | making a great cup of espresso you should consider |
| finished with latte art - complicate designs drawn | | | | entering a barista competition. You will meet other |
| atop the cup with foamed milk by using the pitcher, | | | | people that share your passion for coffee and will |
| the time comes for the signature drink. It is the | | | | certainly get some new ideas to try in your coffee |
| competitor's original creation and this is where | | | | shop. |
| baristas reveal their creativity and skills combining | | | | |